Magnetic tape having characterized magnetic layer and magnetic recording and reproducing device

ABSTRACT

The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, in which an absolute value ΔN of a difference between a refractive index Nxy measured regarding an in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and a refractive index Nz measured regarding a thickness direction of the magnetic layer is 0.25 to 0.40, and a logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.050.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/361,597 filed Mar. 22, 2019 which claims priority under 35 U.S.C 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-057168 filed on Mar. 23, 2018 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-050217 filed on Mar. 18, 2019. Each of the above applications is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a magnetic tape and a magnetic recording and reproducing device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Magnetic recording media are divided into tape-shaped magnetic recording media and disk-shaped magnetic recording media, and tape-shaped magnetic recording media, that is, magnetic tapes are mainly used for data storage. The recording of information on a magnetic tape and/or reproducing thereof are normally performed by causing a surface of the magnetic tape (surface of a magnetic layer) to come into contact with a magnetic head (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a head”) for sliding. As the magnetic tape, a magnetic tape having a configuration in which a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent is provided on a non-magnetic support is widely used (for example, see JP2005-243162A).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a case of reproducing information recorded on a magnetic tape, as a frequency of generation of a partial decrease in reproducing signal amplitude (referred to as “missing pulse”) increases, an error rate increases and reliability of the magnetic tape decreases. Therefore, in order to provide a magnetic tape capable of being used with high reliability, it is desired to decrease a generation frequency of the missing pulse.

However, in recent years, the magnetic tape used for data storage is used in a data center in which a temperature and humidity are managed. On the other hand, in the data center, power saving is necessary for reducing the cost. For realizing the power saving, the managing conditions of the temperature and humidity of the data center can be alleviated compared to the current state, or the managing may not be necessary. However, in a case where the managing conditions of the temperature and humidity are alleviated or the managing is not performed, the magnetic tape is assumed to be used in various environments and assumed to be used in an environment of a low temperature and high humidity. However, as a result of the studies of the inventors, in a low temperature and high humidity environment, it has been determined that a frequency of generation of the missing pulse tends to increase.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a magnetic tape in which a generation frequency of a missing pulse in the low temperature and high humidity environment is decreased.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a magnetic tape comprising: a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, in which an absolute value ΔN of a difference between a refractive index Nxy measured regarding an in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and a refractive index Nz measured regarding a thickness direction of the magnetic layer is 0.25 to 0.40, and a logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding a surface of the magnetic layer (hereinafter, also referred to as a “logarithmic decrement of the magnetic layer” or simply a “logarithmic decrement”) is equal to or smaller than 0.050.

In one aspect, the difference (Nxy−Nz) between the refractive index Nxy and the refractive index Nz may be 0.25 to 0.40.

In one aspect, the logarithmic decrement may be 0.010 to 0.050.

In one aspect, the magnetic tape may further comprise a non-magnetic layer including a non-magnetic powder and a binding agent between the non-magnetic support and the magnetic layer.

In one aspect, the magnetic tape may further comprise a back coating layer including a non-magnetic powder and a binding agent on a surface of the non-magnetic support opposite to a surface provided with the magnetic layer.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a magnetic recording and reproducing device comprising: the magnetic tape; and a magnetic head.

According to one aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a magnetic tape in which a generation frequency of a missing pulse in the low temperature and high humidity environment is decreased. In addition, according to the other aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a magnetic recording and reproducing device including the magnetic tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a measurement method of a logarithmic decrement.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the measurement method of the logarithmic decrement.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the measurement method of the logarithmic decrement.

FIG. 4 shows an example (schematic step view) of a specific aspect of a magnetic tape manufacturing step.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Magnetic Tape

One aspect of the invention relates to a magnetic tape including: a non-magnetic support; and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, in which an absolute value ΔN of a difference between a refractive index Nxy measured regarding an in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and a refractive index Nz measured regarding a thickness direction of the magnetic layer is 0.25 to 0.40, and a logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.050.

In the invention and the specification, the “surface of the magnetic layer” is identical to a surface of a magnetic tape on the magnetic layer side. In the invention and the specification, the “ferromagnetic powder” means an aggregate of a plurality of ferromagnetic particles. The “aggregate” is not only limited to an aspect in which particles configuring the aggregate directly come into contact with each other, but also includes an aspect in which a binding agent, an additive, or the like is interposed between the particles. The points described above are also applied to various powders such as non-magnetic powder of the invention and the specification, in the same manner.

Hereinafter, measurement methods of ΔN and the logarithmic decrement will be described.

In the invention and the specification, the absolute value ΔN of the difference between the refractive index Nxy measured regarding the in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and the refractive index Nz measured regarding the thickness direction of the magnetic layer is a value obtained by the following method.

The refractive index regarding each direction of the magnetic layer is obtained using a double-layer model by spectral ellipsometry. In order to obtain the refractive index of the magnetic layer using the double-layer model by spectral ellipsometry, a value of a refractive index of a portion adjacent to the magnetic layer is used. Hereinafter, an example in a case of obtaining the refractive indexes Nxy and Nz of the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape including a layer configuration in which the non-magnetic layer and the magnetic layer are laminated on the non-magnetic support in this order will be described. However, the magnetic tape according to one aspect of the invention may also be a magnetic tape having a layer configuration in which the magnetic layer is directly laminated on the non-magnetic support without the non-magnetic layer interposed therebetween. Regarding the magnetic tape having such a configuration, the refractive index regarding each direction of the magnetic layer is obtained in the same manner as the following method, using the double-layer model of the magnetic layer and the non-magnetic support. In addition, an incidence angle shown below is an incidence angle in a case where the incidence angle is 0° in a case of vertical incidence.

(1) Preparation of Sample for Measurement

Regarding the magnetic tape including a back coating layer on a surface of a non-magnetic support on a side opposite to the surface provided with a magnetic layer, the measurement is performed after removing the back coating layer of a sample for measurement cut from the magnetic tape. The removal of the back coating layer can be performed by a well-known method of dissolving of the back coating layer using a solvent or the like. As the solvent, for example, methyl ethyl ketone can be used. However, any solvent which can remove the back coating layer may be used. The surface of the non-magnetic support after removing the back coating layer is roughened by a well-known method so that the reflected light on this surface is not detected, in the measurement of ellipsometer. The roughening can be performed by a method of polishing the surface of the non-magnetic support after removing the back coating layer by using sand paper, for example. Regarding the sample for measurement cut out from the magnetic tape not including the back coating layer, the surface of the non-magnetic support on a side opposite to the surface provided with the magnetic layer is roughened.

In addition, in order to measure the refractive index of the non-magnetic layer described below, the magnetic layer is further removed and the surface of the non-magnetic layer is exposed. In order to measure the refractive index of the non-magnetic support described below, the non-magnetic layer is also further removed and the surface of the non-magnetic support on the magnetic layer side is exposed. The removal of each layer can be performed by a well-known method so as described regarding the removal of the back coating layer. A longitudinal direction described below is a direction which was a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape, in a case where the sample for measurement is included in the magnetic tape before being cut out. This point applies to other directions described below, in the same manner.

(2) Measurement of Refractive Index of Magnetic Layer

By setting the incidence angles as 65°, 70°, and 75°, and irradiating the surface of the magnetic layer in the longitudinal direction with an incidence ray having a beam diameter of 300 μm by using the ellipsometer, Δ (phase difference of s-polarized light and p-polarized light) and ψ (amplitude ratio of s-polarized light and p-polarized light) is measured. The measurement is performed by changing a wavelength of the incidence ray by 1.5 nm in a range of 400 to 700 nm, and a measurement value at each wavelength is obtained.

The refractive index of the magnetic layer at each wavelength is obtained with a double-layer model as described below, by using the measurement values of Δ and ψ of the magnetic layer at each wavelength, the refractive index of the non-magnetic layer in each direction obtained by the following method, and the thickness of the magnetic layer.

The zeroth layer which is a substrate of the double-layer model is set as a non-magnetic layer and the first layer thereof is set as a magnetic layer. The double-layer model is created by assuming that there is no effect of rear surface reflection of the non-magnetic layer, by only considering the reflection of the interfaces of air/magnetic layer and magnetic layer/non-magnetic layer. A refractive index of the first layer which is fit to the obtained measurement value the most is obtained by fitting performed by a least squares method. The refractive index Nx of the magnetic layer in the longitudinal direction and a refractive index Nz₁ of the magnetic layer in the thickness direction measured by emitting the incidence ray in the longitudinal direction are obtained as values at the wavelength of 600 nm obtained from the results of the fitting.

In the same manner as described above, except that the direction of incidence of the incidence ray is set as a width direction of the magnetic tape, a refractive index Ny of the magnetic layer in the width direction and a refractive index Nz₂ of the magnetic layer in the thickness direction measured by emitting the incidence ray in the width direction are obtained as values at the wavelength of 600 nm obtained from the results of the fitting.

The fitting is performed by the following method.

In general, “complex refractive index n=η+iκ”. Here, η is a real number of the refractive index, κ is an extinction coefficient, and i is an imaginary number. In a case where a complex dielectric constant ε=ε1+iε2(ε1 and ε2 satisfies Kramers-Kronig relation), ε1=η²−κ², and ε2=2ηκ, the complex dielectric constant of Nx satisfies that ε_(x)=ε_(x)1+iε_(x)2, and the complex dielectric constant of Nz₁ satisfies that ε_(z1)=ε_(z1)1+iε_(z1)2, in a case of calculating the Nx and Nz₁.

The Nx is obtained by setting ε_(x)2 as one Gaussian, setting any point, where a peak position is 5.8 to 5.1 eV and σ is 4 to 3.5 eV, as a starting point, setting a parameter to be offset to a dielectric constant beyond a measurement wavelength range (400 to 700 nm), and performing least squares fitting with respect to the measurement value. In the same manner, N_(z)1 is obtained by setting any point of ε_(z1)2, where a peak position is 3.2 to 2.9 eV and σ is 1.5 to 1.2 eV, as a starting point, and setting an offset parameter, and performing least squares fitting with respect to the measurement value. Ny and Nz₂ are also obtained in the same manner. The refractive index Nxy measured regarding the in-plane direction of the magnetic layer is obtained as “Nxy=(Nx+Ny)/2”. The refractive index Nz measured regarding the thickness direction of the magnetic layer is obtained as “Nz=(Nz₁+Nz₂)/2”. From the obtained Nxy and Nz, the absolute value ΔN of difference thereof is obtained.

(3) Measurement of Refractive Index of Non-Magnetic Layer

Refractive indexes of the non-magnetic layer at a wavelength of 600 nm (the refractive index in the longitudinal direction, the refractive index in the width direction, the refractive index in the thickness direction measured by emitting the incidence ray in the longitudinal direction, and the refractive index in the thickness direction measured by emitting the incidence ray in the width direction) are obtained in the same manner as in the method described above, except the following points.

The wavelength of the incidence ray is changed by 1.5 nm in the range of 250 to 700 nm.

By using a double-layer model of a non-magnetic layer and a non-magnetic support, the zeroth layer which is a substrate of the double-layer model is set as the non-magnetic support, and the first layer thereof is set as the non-magnetic layer. The double-layer model is created by assuming that there is no effect of rear surface reflection of the non-magnetic support, by only considering the reflection of the interfaces of air/non-magnetic layer and non-magnetic layer/non-magnetic support.

In the fitting, seven peaks (0.6 eV, 2.3 eV, 2.9 eV, 3.6 eV, 4.6 eV, 5.0 eV, and 6.0 eV) are assumed in the imaginary part (ε2) of the complex dielectric constant, and the parameter to be offset is set to the dielectric constant beyond the measurement wavelength range (250 to 700 nm).

(4) Measurement of Refractive Index of Non-Magnetic Support

The refractive indexes of the non-magnetic support at a wavelength of 600 nm (refractive index in the longitudinal direction, the refractive index in the width direction, the refractive index in the thickness direction measured by emitting the incidence ray in the longitudinal direction, and the refractive index in the thickness direction measured by emitting the incidence ray in the width direction) used for obtaining the refractive indexes of the non-magnetic layer by the double-layer model are obtained in the same manner as in the method described above for measuring the refractive index of the magnetic layer, except the following points.

A single-layer model with only front surface reflection is used, without using the double-layer model.

The fitting is performed by the Cauchy model (n=A+B/λ², n is a refractive index, A and B are respectively constants determined by fitting, and λ is a wavelength).

Next, the logarithmic decrement of the magnetic layer will be described.

In the invention and the specification, the logarithmic decrement of the magnetic layer is a value acquired by the following method.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are explanatory diagrams of a measurement method of the logarithmic decrement. Hereinafter, the measurement method of the logarithmic decrement will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the aspect shown in the drawing is merely an example and the invention is not limited thereto.

A measurement sample 100 is cut out from the magnetic tape which is a measurement target. The cut-out measurement sample 100 is placed on a substrate 103 so that a measurement surface (surface of the magnetic layer) faces upward, in a sample stage 101 in a pendulum viscoelasticity tester, and the measurement sample is fixed by fixing tapes 105 in a state where obvious wrinkles which can be visually confirmed are not generated.

A pendulum-attached columnar cylinder edge 104 (diameter of 4 mm) having mass of 13 g is loaded on the measurement surface of the measurement sample 100 so that a long axis direction of the cylinder edge becomes parallel to a longitudinal direction of the measurement sample 100. An example of a state in which the pendulum-attached columnar cylinder edge 104 is loaded on the measurement surface of the measurement sample 100 as described above (state seen from the top) is shown in FIG. 1. In the aspect shown in FIG. 1, a holder and temperature sensor 102 is installed and a temperature of the surface of the substrate 103 can be monitored. However, this configuration is not essential. In the aspect shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction of the measurement sample 100 is a direction shown with an arrow in the drawing, and is the same direction as a longitudinal direction of a magnetic tape from which the measurement sample is cut out. In addition, as a pendulum 107 (see FIG. 2), a pendulum formed of a material having properties of being adsorbed to a magnet (for example, formed of metal or formed of an alloy) is used.

The temperature of the surface of the substrate 103 on which the measurement sample 100 is placed is set to 80° C. by increasing the temperature at a rate of temperature increase equal to or lower than 5° C./min (any rate of temperature increase may be set, as long as it is equal to or lower than 5° C./min), and the pendulum movement is started (induce initial vibration) by releasing adsorption between the pendulum 107 and a magnet 106. An example of a state of the pendulum 107 which performs the pendulum movement (state seen from the side) is shown in FIG. 2. In the aspect shown in FIG. 2, in the pendulum viscoelasticity tester, the pendulum movement is started by stopping (switching off) the electricity to the magnet (electromagnet) 106 disposed on the lower side of the sample stage to release the adsorption, and the pendulum movement is stopped by restarting (switching on) the electricity to the electromagnet to cause the pendulum 107 to be adsorbed to the magnet 106. As shown in FIG. 2, during the pendulum movement, the pendulum 107 reciprocates the amplitude. From a result obtained by monitoring displacement of the pendulum with a displacement sensor 108 while the pendulum reciprocates the amplitude, a displacement-time curve in which a vertical axis indicates the displacement and a horizontal axis indicates the elapsed time is obtained. An example of the displacement-time curve is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 schematically shows correspondence between the state of the pendulum 107 and the displacement-time curve. The stop (adsorption) and the pendulum movement are repeated at a regular measurement interval, the logarithmic decrement Δ (no unit) is acquired from the following Expression by using a displacement-time curve obtained in the measurement interval after 10 minutes or longer (may be any time, as long as it is 10 minutes or longer) has elapsed, and this value is set as logarithmic decrement of the surface of the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape. The adsorption time of the first adsorption is set as 1 second or longer (may be any time, as long as it is 1 second or longer), and the interval between the adsorption stop and the adsorption start is set as 6 seconds or longer (may be any time, as long as it is 6 seconds or longer). The measurement interval is an interval of the time from the adsorption start and the next adsorption start. In addition, humidity of an environment in which the pendulum movement is performed, may be any relative humidity, as long as the relative humidity is 40% to 70%.

$\Delta = \frac{{\ln\left( \frac{A_{1}}{A_{2}} \right)} + {\ln\left( \frac{A_{2}}{A_{3}} \right)} + {\ldots\mspace{14mu}{\ln\left( \frac{A_{n}}{A_{n + 1}} \right)}}}{n}$

In the displacement-time curve, an interval between a point of the minimum displacement and a point of the next minimum displacement is set as a period of a wave. n indicates the number of waves included in the displacement-time curve in the measurement interval, and A_(n) indicates the minimum displacement and maximum displacement of the n-th wave. In FIG. 3, an interval between the minimum displacement of the n-th wave and the next minimum displacement is shown as P_(n) (for example, P₁ regarding the first wave, P₂ regarding the second wave, and P₃ regarding the third wave). In the calculation of the logarithmic decrement, a difference (in Expression A_(n+1), in the displacement-time curve shown in FIG. 3, A₄) between the minimum displacement and the maximum displacement appearing after the n-th wave is also used, but a part where the pendulum 107 stops (adsorption) after the maximum displacement is not used in the counting of the number of waves. In addition, a part where the pendulum 107 stops (adsorption) before the maximum displacement is not used in the counting of the number of waves, either. Accordingly, the number of waves is 3 (n=3) in the displacement-time curve shown in FIG. 3.

The inventors have surmised as follows regarding a reason for a decrease of the generation frequency of the missing pulse in the low temperature and high humidity environment in the magnetic tape.

In a case of reproducing information recorded on the magnetic tape, in a case where the surface of the magnetic layer is chipped in the sliding of the surface of the magnetic layer and a head, the generated scraps are attached to the head and a head attached material may be generated. The inventors have surmised regarding the reason for the generation of the missing pulse in the low temperature and high humidity environment, a contact state in a case of the sliding of the surface of the magnetic layer and the head easily becomes unstable due to a tendency of an increase of a coefficient of friction during the sliding of the surface of the magnetic layer and the head in the low temperature and high humidity environment, and the reason for the unstable contact state is the generation of the head attached material.

Regarding the above-mentioned point, the inventors have thought that ΔN obtained by the method described above is a value which may be an index of a presence state of the ferromagnetic powder in a surface region of the magnetic layer. This ΔN is assumed as a value which is influenced by the effect of various factors such as a presence state of a binding agent or a density distribution of the ferromagnetic powder, in addition to the alignment state of the ferromagnetic powder in the magnetic layer. In addition, it is thought that the magnetic layer in which the ΔN is set as 0.25 to 0.40 by controlling various factors has a high hardness of the surface of the magnetic layer and the chipping thereof due to the sliding with the head hardly occurs. The inventors have surmised that, this contributes to the prevention of the generation of the head attached material due to the chipping of the surface of the magnetic layer during the sliding with the head in the low temperature and high humidity environment, and as a result, this contributes to a decrease in the generation frequency of the missing pulse in the low temperature and high humidity environment.

In addition, the inventors have surmised regarding the logarithmic decrement as follows.

It is thought that the logarithmic decrement obtained by the method described above is a value which is an index for the amount of pressure sensitive adhesive components separated from the surface of the magnetic layer, in a case where the head comes into contact with the surface of the magnetic layer and slides thereon, and interposed between the surface of the magnetic layer and the head. It is thought that as a larger amount of the pressure sensitive adhesive components are present, adhesion between the surface of the magnetic layer and the head increases, and accordingly, a contact state during the sliding between the surface of the magnetic layer and the head becomes unstable. With respect to this, it is thought that, in the magnetic tape, a state where the logarithmic decrement of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.050, that is, a state where the amount of the pressure sensitive adhesive components is decreased contributes to smooth sliding between the surface of the magnetic layer and the head. The inventors have surmised that this contributes to stabilization of the contact state during the sliding between the surface of the magnetic layer and the head, thereby causing a decrease in generation frequency of the missing pulse in the low temperature and high humidity environment.

The details of the pressure sensitive adhesive components are not clear. The inventors have surmised that the pressure sensitive adhesive components may be derived from a resin used as a binding agent. The specific description is as follows. As a binding agent, various resins can be used as will be described later in detail. The resin is a polymer (including a homopolymer or a copolymer) of two or more polymerizable compounds and generally also includes a component having a molecular weight which is smaller than an average molecular weight (hereinafter, referred to as a “binding agent component having a low molecular weight”). The inventors have thought that the binding agent component having a low molecular weight may be separated from the surface of the magnetic layer at the time of sliding between the head and the surface of the magnetic layer and interposed between the surface of the magnetic layer and the head. The inventors have surmised that, the binding agent component having a low molecular weight may have pressure sensitive adhesive properties and the logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test may be an index for the amount of binding agent components having a low molecular weight separated from the surface of the magnetic layer at the time of the sliding between the surface of the magnetic layer and the head. In one aspect, the magnetic layer is formed by applying a magnetic layer forming composition including a curing agent in addition to ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent, onto a non-magnetic support directly or with another layer interposed therebetween, and performing curing process. With the curing process here, it is possible to allow a curing reaction (crosslinking reaction) between the binding agent and the curing agent. However, although the reason thereof is not clear, the inventors have considered that the binding agent component having a low molecular weight may have poor reactivity regarding the curing reaction. Accordingly, the inventors have surmised that the binding agent component having a low molecular weight which hardly remains in the magnetic layer and is easily separated from the magnetic layer may be one of reasons for that the binding agent component having a low molecular weight is interposed between the surface of the magnetic layer and the head at the time of the sliding between the surface of the magnetic layer and the head.

However, the above descriptions are merely a surmise of the inventors and the invention is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, the magnetic tape will be described more specifically. Hereinafter, the generation frequency of the missing pulse in the low temperature and high humidity environment is also simply referred to as the “generation frequency of the missing pulse”.

Magnetic Layer

ΔN of Magnetic Layer

ΔN of the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape is 0.25 to 0.40. As described above, it is surmised that the magnetic layer having ΔN of 0.25 to 0.40 has a high hardness of the surface of the magnetic layer, and the chipping thereof due to the sliding with the head in the low temperature and high humidity environment hardly occurs. Accordingly, it is thought that, in a case of reproducing information recorded on the magnetic layer in the low temperature and high humidity environment, the chipping of the magnetic layer having ΔN in the range described above hardly occurs on the surface of the magnetic layer during the sliding of the surface of the magnetic layer and the head. It is surmised that this contributes to a decrease in the generation frequency of the missing pulse in the low temperature and high humidity environment. From a viewpoint of further decreasing the generation frequency of the missing pulse, ΔN is preferably 0.25 to 0.35. A specific aspect of means for adjusting ΔN will be described later.

ΔN is an absolute value of a difference between Nxy and Nz. Nxy is a refractive index measured regarding the in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and Nz is a refractive index measured regarding the thickness direction of the magnetic layer. In one aspect, a relation of Nxy>Nz can be satisfied, and in the other aspect, Nxy<Nz can be satisfied. From a viewpoint of electromagnetic conversion characteristics of the magnetic tape, a relationship of Nxy>Nz is preferable, and therefore, the difference between the Nxy and Nz (Nxy−Nz) is preferably 0.25 to 0.40 and more preferably 0.25 to 0.35.

Various means for adjusting ΔN described above will be described later.

Logarithmic Decrement

The logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding the surface of the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape is equal to or smaller than 0.050, from a viewpoint of decreasing the generation frequency of the missing pulse in the low temperature and high humidity environment. From a viewpoint of further decreasing the generation frequency of the missing pulse, the logarithmic decrement is preferably equal to or smaller than 0.048, more preferably equal to or smaller than 0.045, and even more preferably equal to or smaller than 0.040. Meanwhile, from a viewpoint of decreasing the generation frequency of the missing pulse, it is preferable that the logarithmic decrement is low, and thus, a lower limit value is not particularly limited. The logarithmic decrement can be, for example, equal to or greater than 0.010 or equal to or greater than 0.015. However, the logarithmic decrement may be smaller than the exemplified value. A specific aspect of means for adjusting the logarithmic decrement will be described later.

Ferromagnetic Powder

As the ferromagnetic powder included in the magnetic layer, ferromagnetic powder normally used in the magnetic layer of various magnetic recording media can be used. It is preferable to use ferromagnetic powder having a small average particle size, from a viewpoint of improvement of recording density of the magnetic recording medium. From this viewpoint, ferromagnetic powder having an average particle size equal to or smaller than 50 nm is preferably used as the ferromagnetic powder. Meanwhile, the average particle size of the ferromagnetic powder is preferably equal to or greater than 5 nm, and more preferably equal to or greater than 10 nm, from a viewpoint of stability of magnetization.

As a preferred specific example of the ferromagnetic powder, ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder can be used. The ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder can be ferromagnetic hexagonal barium ferrite powder, ferromagnetic hexagonal strontium ferrite powder, and the like. An average particle size of the ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder is preferably 10 nm to 50 nm and more preferably 20 nm to 50 nm, from a viewpoint of improvement of recording density and stability of magnetization. For details of the ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder, descriptions disclosed in paragraphs 0012 to 0030 of JP2011-225417A, paragraphs 0134 to 0136 of JP2011-216149A, and paragraphs 0013 to 0030 of JP2012-204726A can be referred to, for example.

As a preferred specific example of the ferromagnetic powder, ferromagnetic metal powder can also be used. An average particle size of the ferromagnetic metal powder is preferably 10 nm to 50 nm and more preferably 20 nm to 50 nm, from a viewpoint of improvement of recording density and stability of magnetization. For details of the ferromagnetic metal powder, descriptions disclosed in paragraphs 0137 to 0141 of JP2011-216149A and paragraphs 0009 to 0023 of JP2005-251351A can be referred to, for example.

As a preferred specific example of the ferromagnetic powder, ε-iron oxide powder can also be used. As a method for producing ε-iron oxide powder, a method for producing ε-iron oxide powder from goethite and a reverse micelle method has been known. Both of the above-described production methods have been publicly known. Moreover, J. Jpn. Soc. Powder Metallurgy Vol. 61 Supplement, No. S1, pp. S280-S284 and J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013, 1, pp. 5200-5206 can be referred to about a method for producing ε-iron oxide powder where some of Fe are substituted with substitutional atoms such as Ga, Co, Ti, Al, and Rh, for example. The method for producing ε-iron oxide powder which can be used as ferromagnetic powder in the magnetic layer, however, is not limited to these methods.

In the invention and the specification, average particle sizes of various powder such as the ferromagnetic powder and the like are values measured by the following method with a transmission electron microscope, unless otherwise noted.

The powder is imaged at a magnification ratio of 100,000 with a transmission electron microscope, the image is printed on photographic printing paper so that the total magnification ratio of 500,000 to obtain an image of particles configuring the powder. A target particle is selected from the obtained image of particles, an outline of the particle is traced with a digitizer, and a size of the particle (primary particle) is measured. The primary particle is an independent particle which is not aggregated.

The measurement described above is performed regarding 500 particles randomly extracted. An arithmetical mean of the particle size of 500 particles obtained as described above is an average particle size of the powder. As the transmission electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope H-9000 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. can be used, for example. In addition, the measurement of the particle size can be performed by well-known image analysis software, for example, image analysis software KS-400 manufactured by Carl Zeiss. A value regarding a size of powder such as the average particle size shown in examples which will be described later is a value measured by using transmission electron microscope H-9000 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. as the transmission electron microscope, and image analysis software KS-400 manufactured by Carl Zeiss as the image analysis software, unless otherwise noted.

As a method of collecting a sample powder from the magnetic recording medium in order to measure the particle size, a method disclosed in a paragraph of 0015 of JP2011-048878A can be used, for example.

In the invention and the specification, unless otherwise noted, (1) in a case where the shape of the particle observed in the particle image described above is a needle shape, a fusiform shape, or a columnar shape (here, a height is greater than a maximum long diameter of a bottom surface), the size (particle size) of the particles configuring the powder is shown as a length of a long axis configuring the particle, that is, a long axis length, (2) in a case where the shape of the particle is a planar shape or a columnar shape (here, a thickness or a height is smaller than a maximum long diameter of a plate surface or a bottom surface), the particle size is shown as a maximum long diameter of the plate surface or the bottom surface, and (3) in a case where the shape of the particle is a sphere shape, a polyhedron shape, or an unspecified shape, and the long axis configuring the particles cannot be specified from the shape, the particle size is shown as an equivalent circle diameter. The equivalent circle diameter is a value obtained by a circle projection method.

In addition, regarding an average acicular ratio of the powder, a length of a short axis, that is, a short axis length of the particles is measured in the measurement described above, a value of (long axis length/short axis length) of each particle is obtained, and an arithmetical mean of the values obtained regarding 500 particles is calculated. Here, unless otherwise noted, in a case of (1), the short axis length as the definition of the particle size is a length of a short axis configuring the particle, in a case of (2), the short axis length is a thickness or a height, and in a case of (3), the long axis and the short axis are not distinguished, thus, the value of (long axis length/short axis length) is assumed as 1, for convenience.

In addition, unless otherwise noted, in a case where the shape of the particle is specified, for example, in a case of definition of the particle size (1), the average particle size is an average long axis length, in a case of the definition (2), the average particle size is an average plate diameter. In a case of the definition (3), the average particle size is an average diameter (also referred to as an average particle diameter).

In one aspect, the shape of the ferromagnetic particles configuring the ferromagnetic powder included in the magnetic layer can be a plate shape. Hereinafter, the ferromagnetic powder including the plate-shaped ferromagnetic particles is referred to as a plate-shaped ferromagnetic powder. An average plate ratio of the plate-shaped ferromagnetic powder can be preferably 2.5 to 5.0. The average plate ratio is an arithmetical mean of (maximum long diameter/thickness or height) in a case of the definition (2). As the average plate ratio increases, uniformity of the alignment state of the ferromagnetic particles configuring the plate-shaped ferromagnetic powder tends to easily increase by the alignment process, and the value of ΔN tends to increase.

As an index for a particle size of the ferromagnetic powder, an activation volume can also be used. The “activation volume” is a unit of magnetization reversal. Regarding the activation volume described in the invention and the specification, magnetic field sweep rates of a coercivity Hc measurement part at time points of 3 minutes and 30 minutes are measured by using an oscillation sample type magnetic-flux meter in an environment of an atmosphere temperature of 23° C.±1° C., and the activation volume is a value acquired from the following relational expression of Hc and an activation volume V. The activation volume shown in examples which will be described later is a value obtained by performing measurement using an oscillation sample type magnetic-flux meter (manufactured by Toei Industry Co., Ltd.).

Hc=2Ku/Ms{1−[(kT/KuV)ln(At/0.693)]^(1/2)}

[In the expression, Ku: anisotropy constant, Ms: saturation magnetization, k: Boltzmann's constant, T: absolute temperature, V: activation volume, A: spin precession frequency, and t: magnetic field reversal time]

From a viewpoint of improving the recording density, the activation volume of the ferromagnetic powder is preferably equal to or smaller than 2,500 nm³, more preferably equal to or smaller than 2,300 nm³, and even more preferably equal to or smaller than 2,000 nm³. Meanwhile, from a viewpoint of stability of magnetization, the activation volume of the ferromagnetic powder is, for example, preferably equal to or greater than 800 nm³, more preferably equal to or greater than 1,000 nm³, and even more preferably equal to or greater than 1,200 nm³.

The content (filling percentage) of the ferromagnetic powder of the magnetic layer is preferably 50% to 90% by mass and more preferably 60% to 90% by mass. The components other than the ferromagnetic powder of the magnetic layer are at least one or more components selected from the group consisting of fatty acid and fatty acid amide, and a binding agent, and one or more kinds of additives may be randomly included. A high filling percentage of the ferromagnetic powder in the magnetic layer is preferable from a viewpoint of improvement of recording density.

Binding Agent and Curing Agent

The magnetic tape is a coating type magnetic tape and includes a binding agent in the magnetic layer. The binding agent is one or more kinds of resin. The resin may be a homopolymer or a copolymer. As the binding agent included in the magnetic layer, a resin selected from a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, a polyamide resin, a vinyl chloride resin, an acrylic resin obtained by copolymerizing styrene, acrylonitrile, or methyl methacrylate, a cellulose resin such as nitrocellulose, an epoxy resin, a phenoxy resin, and a polyvinylalkylal resin such as polyvinyl acetal or polyvinyl butyral can be used alone or a plurality of resins can be mixed with each other to be used. Among these, a polyurethane resin, an acrylic resin, a cellulose resin, and a vinyl chloride resin are preferable. These resins can be used as the binding agent even in the non-magnetic layer and/or a back coating layer which will be described later. For the binding agent described above, description disclosed in paragraphs 0029 to 0031 of JP2010-024113A can be referred to. An average molecular weight of the resin used as the binding agent can be, for example, 10,000 to 200,000 as a weight-average molecular weight. The weight-average molecular weight of the invention and the specification is a value obtained by performing polystyrene conversion of a value measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). As measurement conditions, the following conditions can be used. The weight-average molecular weight shown in examples which will be described later is a value obtained by performing polystyrene conversion of a value measured under the following measurement conditions.

GPC device: HLC-8120 (manufactured by Tosoh Corporation)

Column: TSK gel Multipore HXL-M (manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, 7.8 mmID (inner diameter)×30.0 cm)

Eluent: Tetrahydrofuran (THF)

In one aspect, as the binding agent, a binding agent including an acidic group can be used. The acidic group of the invention and the specification is used as a meaning including a state of a group capable of emitting H⁺ in water or a solvent including water (aqueous solvent) to dissociate anions and salt thereof. Specific examples of the acidic group include a sulfonic acid group, a sulfuric acid group, a carboxy group, a phosphoric acid group, and salt thereof. For example, salt of sulfonic acid group (—SO₃H) is represented by —SO₃M, and M represents a group representing an atom (for example, alkali metal atom or the like) which may be cations in water or in an aqueous solvent. The same applies to aspects of salt of various groups described above. As an example of the binding agent including the acidic group, a resin including at least one kind of acidic group selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid group and salt thereof (for example, a polyurethane resin or a vinyl chloride resin) can be used. However, the resin included in the magnetic layer is not limited to these resins. In addition, in the binding agent including the acidic group, a content of the acidic group can be, for example, 20 to 500 eq/ton. eq indicates equivalent and SI unit is a unit not convertible. The content of various functional groups such as the acidic group included in the resin can be obtained by a well-known method in accordance with the kind of the functional group. As the binding agent having a great content of the acidic group is used, the value of ΔN tends to increase. The amount of the binding agent used in a magnetic layer forming composition can be, for example, 1.0 to 30.0 parts by mass, and preferably 1.0 to 20.0 parts by mass with respect to 100.0 parts by mass of the ferromagnetic powder. As the amount of the binding agent used with respect to the ferromagnetic powder increases, the value of ΔN tends to increase.

In addition, a curing agent can also be used together with the resin which can be used as the binding agent. As the curing agent, in one aspect, a thermosetting compound which is a compound in which a curing reaction (crosslinking reaction) proceeds due to heating can be used, and in another aspect, a photocurable compound in which a curing reaction (crosslinking reaction) proceeds due to light irradiation can be used. At least a part of the curing agent is included in the magnetic layer in a state of being reacted (crosslinked) with other components such as the binding agent, by proceeding the curing reaction in the magnetic layer forming step. This point is the same as regarding a layer formed by using a composition, in a case where the composition used for forming the other layer includes the curing agent. The preferred curing agent is a thermosetting compound, polyisocyanate is suitable. For details of the polyisocyanate, descriptions disclosed in paragraphs 0124 and 0125 of JP2011-216149A can be referred to, for example. The amount of the curing agent can be, for example, 0 to 80.0 parts by mass with respect to 100.0 parts by mass of the binding agent in the magnetic layer forming composition, and is preferably 50.0 to 80.0 parts by mass, from a viewpoint of improvement of hardness of the magnetic layer.

Additives

The magnetic layer includes ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent, and may include one or more kinds of additives, if necessary. As the additives, the curing agent described above is used as an example. In addition, examples of the additive included in the magnetic layer include non-magnetic powder (for example, inorganic powder or carbon black), a lubricant, a dispersing agent, a dispersing assistant, an antibacterial agent, an antistatic agent, and an antioxidant. As the non-magnetic powder, non-magnetic powder which can function as an abrasive, non-magnetic powder (for example, non-magnetic colloid particles) which can function as a projection formation agent which forms projections suitably protruded from the surface of the magnetic layer, and the like can be used. An average particle size of colloidal silica (silica colloid particles) shown in the examples which will be described later is a value obtained by a method disclosed in a measurement method of an average particle diameter in a paragraph 0015 of JP2011-048878A. As the additives, a commercially available product can be suitably selected according to the desired properties or manufactured by a well-known method, and can be used with any amount. As an example of the additive which can be used in the magnetic layer including the abrasive, a dispersing agent disclosed in paragraphs 0012 to 0022 of JP2013-131285A can be used as a dispersing agent for improving dispersibility of the abrasive. For example, for the lubricant, a description disclosed in paragraphs 0030 to 0033, 0035, and 0036 of JP2016-126817A can be referred to. The non-magnetic layer may include the lubricant. For the lubricant which may be included in the non-magnetic layer, a description disclosed in paragraphs 0030, 0031, 0034, 0035, and 0036 of JP2016-126817A can be referred to. For the dispersing agent, a description disclosed in paragraphs 0061 and 0071 of JP2012-133837A can be referred to. The dispersing agent may be included in the non-magnetic layer. For the dispersing agent which may be included in the non-magnetic layer, a description disclosed in a paragraph 0061 of JP2012-133837A can be referred to.

The magnetic layer described above can be provided on the surface of the non-magnetic support directly or indirectly through the non-magnetic layer.

Non-Magnetic Layer

Next, the non-magnetic layer will be described.

The magnetic tape may include a magnetic layer directly on the surface of the non-magnetic support or may include a non-magnetic layer including the non-magnetic powder and the binding agent between the non-magnetic support and the magnetic layer. The non-magnetic powder included in the non-magnetic layer may be inorganic powder or organic powder. In addition, carbon black and the like can be used. Examples of the inorganic powder include powder of metal, metal oxide, metal carbonate, metal sulfate, metal nitride, metal carbide, and metal sulfide. The non-magnetic powder can be purchased as a commercially available product or can be manufactured by a well-known method. For details thereof, descriptions disclosed in paragraphs 0036 to 0039 of JP2010-024113A can be referred to. The content (filling percentage) of the non-magnetic powder of the non-magnetic layer is preferably 50% to 90% by mass and more preferably 60% to 90% by mass.

In regards to other details of a binding agent or additives of the non-magnetic layer, the well-known technology regarding the non-magnetic layer can be applied. In addition, in regards to the type and the content of the binding agent, and the type and the content of the additive, for example, the well-known technology regarding the magnetic layer can be applied.

The non-magnetic layer of the invention and the specification also includes a substantially non-magnetic layer including a small amount of ferromagnetic powder as impurities or intentionally, together with the non-magnetic powder. Here, the substantially non-magnetic layer is a layer having a residual magnetic flux density equal to or smaller than 10 mT, a layer having coercivity equal to or smaller than 7.96 kA/m (100 Oe), or a layer having a residual magnetic flux density equal to or smaller than 10 mT and coercivity equal to or smaller than 7.96 kA/m (100 Oe). It is preferable that the non-magnetic layer does not have a residual magnetic flux density and coercivity.

Non-Magnetic Support

Next, the non-magnetic support (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a “support”) will be described.

As the non-magnetic support, well-known components such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyamide, polyamide imide, aromatic polyamide subjected to biaxial stretching are used. Among these, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and polyamide are preferable. Corona discharge, plasma treatment, easy-bonding treatment, or heat treatment may be performed with respect to these supports in advance.

Back Coating Layer

The magnetic tape can also include a back coating layer including a non-magnetic powder and a binding agent on a surface of the non-magnetic support opposite to the surface provided with the magnetic layer. The back coating layer preferably includes any one or both of carbon black and inorganic powder. In regards to the binding agent included in the back coating layer and various additives which can be randomly included therein, a well-known technology regarding the back coating layer can be applied, and a well-known technology regarding the list of the magnetic layer and/or the non-magnetic layer can also be applied. For example, for the back coating layer, descriptions disclosed in paragraphs 0018 to 0020 of JP2006-331625A and page 4, line 65, to page 5, line 38, of U.S. Pat. No. 7,029,774B can be referred to.

Various Thicknesses

The thicknesses of the non-magnetic support and each layer of the magnetic tape will be described below.

The thickness of the non-magnetic support is, for example, 3.0 to 80.0 μm, preferably 3.0 to 50.0 μm, and more preferably 3.0 to 10.0 μm.

A thickness of the magnetic layer can be optimized according to a saturation magnetization of a magnetic head used, a head gap length, a recording signal band, and the like. The thickness of the magnetic layer is normally 10 nm to 100 nm, and is preferably 20 to 90 nm and more preferably 30 to 70 nm, from a viewpoint of realization of high-density recording. The magnetic layer may be at least one layer, or the magnetic layer can be separated to two or more layers having magnetic properties, and a configuration regarding a well-known multilayered magnetic layer can be applied. A thickness of the magnetic layer which is separated into two or more layers is a total thickness of the layers.

A thickness of the non-magnetic layer is, for example, 0.1 to 1.5 μm and preferably 0.1 to 1.0 μm.

A thickness of the back coating layer is preferably equal to or smaller than 0.9 μm and even more preferably 0.1 to 0.7 μm.

The thicknesses of various layers and the non-magnetic support are obtained by exposing a cross section of the magnetic tape in a thickness direction by a well-known method of ion beams or microtome, and observing the exposed cross section with a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). For the specific examples of the measurement method of the thickness, a description disclosed regarding the measurement method of the thickness in examples which will be described later can be referred to.

Manufacturing Step

Preparation of Each Layer Forming Composition

Steps of preparing the composition for forming the magnetic layer, the non-magnetic layer, or the back coating layer generally include at least a kneading step, a dispersing step, and a mixing step provided before and after these steps, if necessary. Each step may be divided into two or more stages. The components used in the preparation of each layer forming composition may be added at an initial stage or in a middle stage of each step. As the solvent, one kind or two or more kinds of various solvents generally used for manufacturing a coating type magnetic recording medium can be used. For the solvent, a description disclosed in a paragraph 0153 of JP2011-216149A can be referred to, for example. In addition, each component may be separately added in two or more steps. For example, the binding agent may be separately added in the kneading step, the dispersing step, and a mixing step for adjusting a viscosity after the dispersion. In order to manufacture the magnetic tape, a well-known manufacturing technology of the related art can be used in various steps. In the kneading step, an open kneader, a continuous kneader, a pressure kneader, or a kneader having a strong kneading force such as an extruder is preferably used. For details of the kneading processes, descriptions disclosed in JP1989-106338A (JP-H01-106338A) and JP1989-079274A (JP-H01-079274A) can be referred to. As a disperser, a well-known disperser can be used. In addition, the ferromagnetic powder and the abrasive can also be dispersed separately. The separate dispersion is specifically a method of preparing a magnetic layer forming composition through a step of mixing an abrasive solution including an abrasive and a solvent (here, ferromagnetic powder is not substantially included) with a magnetic liquid including the ferromagnetic powder, a solvent, and a binding agent. The expression “ferromagnetic powder is not substantially included” means that the ferromagnetic powder is not added as a constituent component of the abrasive solution, and a small amount of the ferromagnetic powder mixed as impurities without any intention is allowed. Regarding ΔN, as a period of the dispersion time of the magnetic liquid increases, the value of ΔN tends to increase. This is thought that, as a period of the dispersion time of the magnetic liquid increases, the dispersibility of the ferromagnetic powder in the coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition increases, and the uniformity of the alignment state of the ferromagnetic particles configuring the ferromagnetic powder by the alignment process tends to easily increase. In addition, as the period of the dispersion time in a case of mixing and dispersing various components of the non-magnetic layer forming composition increases, the value of ΔN tends to increase. The dispersion time of the magnetic liquid and the dispersion time of the non-magnetic layer forming composition may be set so that ΔN of 0.25 to 0.40 can be realized.

In any stage of preparing each layer forming composition, the filtering may be performed by a well-known method. The filtering can be performed by using a filter, for example. As the filter used in the filtering, a filter having a hole diameter of 0.01 to 3 μm (for example, filter made of glass fiber or filter made of polypropylene) can be used, for example.

Coating Step

The non-magnetic layer and the magnetic layer can be formed by performing multilayer coating with the non-magnetic layer forming composition and the magnetic layer forming composition in order or at the same time. The back coating layer can be formed by applying the back coating layer forming composition onto the surface of the non-magnetic support opposite to the surface provided with the non-magnetic layer and the magnetic layer (or non-magnetic layer and/or the magnetic layer is to be provided). In addition, the coating step for forming each layer can be also performed by being divided into two or more steps. For example, in one aspect, the magnetic layer forming composition can be applied in two or more steps. In this case, a drying process may be performed or may not be performed during the coating steps of two stages. In addition, the alignment process may be performed or may not be performed during the coating steps of two stages. For details of the coating for forming each layer, a description disclosed in a paragraph 0066 of JP2010-231843A can be referred to. In addition, for the drying step after applying the each layer forming composition, a well-known technology can be applied. Regarding the magnetic layer forming composition, as a drying temperature of a coating layer which is formed by applying the magnetic layer forming composition (hereinafter, also referred to as a “coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition” or simply a “coating layer”) decreases, the value of ΔN tends to increase. The drying temperature can be an atmosphere temperature for performing the drying step, for example, and may be set so that ΔN of 0.25 to 0.40 can be realized.

Other Steps

For various other steps for manufacturing the magnetic tape, a well-known technology can be applied. For details of the various steps, descriptions disclosed in paragraphs 0067 to 0070 of JP2010-231843A can be referred to, for example.

For example, it is preferable to perform the alignment process with respect to the coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition while the coating layer is wet. From a viewpoint of ease of exhibiting of ΔN of 0.25 to 0.40, the alignment process is preferably performed by disposing a magnet so that a magnetic field is vertically applied to the surface of the coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition (that is, homeotropic alignment process). The strength of the magnetic field during the alignment process may be set so that ΔN of 0.25 to 0.40 can be realized. In addition, in a case of performing the coating step of the magnetic layer forming composition by the coating steps of two or more stages, it is preferable to perform the alignment process at least after the final coating step, and it is more preferable to perform the homeotropic alignment process. For example, in a case of forming the magnetic layer by the coating steps of two stages, the drying step is performed without performing the alignment process after the first coating step, and then, the alignment process can be performed with respect to the formed coating layer in the second coating step.

In addition, it is preferable to perform the calendar process in any stage after drying the coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition. For the conditions of the calendar process, a description disclosed in a paragraph 0026 of JP2010-231843A can be referred to. As the calendar temperature (surface temperature of the calendar roll) increases, the value of ΔN tends to increase. The calendar temperature may be set so that ΔN of 0.25 to 0.40 can be realized.

One Aspect of Preferred Manufacturing Method

In a preferred aspect, a magnetic layer can be formed through a magnetic layer forming step including a coating step of applying a magnetic layer forming composition including ferromagnetic powder, a binding agent, a curing agent, and a solvent onto a non-magnetic support directly or with a non-magnetic layer interposed therebetween, to form a coating layer, a heating and drying step of drying the coating layer by a heating process, and a curing step of performing a curing process with respect to the coating layer. The magnetic layer forming step preferably includes a cooling step of cooling the coating layer between the coating step and the heating and drying step, and more preferably includes a burnishing treatment step of performing a burnishing treatment with respect to the surface of the coating layer between the heating and drying step and the curing step.

It is thought that it is preferable that the cooling step and the burnishing treatment step in the magnetic layer forming step, in order to set the logarithmic decrement to be equal to or smaller than 0.050. More specific description is as follows.

It is surmised that performing the cooling step of cooling the coating layer between the coating step and the heating and drying step contributes to causing pressure sensitive adhesive component described above is localized in the surface and/or a surface layer part in the vicinity of the surface of the coating layer. It is thought that this is because the pressure sensitive adhesive component at the time of solvent volatilization in the heating and drying step is easily moved to the surface and/or the surface layer part of the coating layer, by cooling the coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition before the heating and drying step. However, the reason thereof is not clear. It is thought that the pressure sensitive adhesive component can be removed by performing the burnishing treatment with respect to the surface of the coating layer in which the pressure sensitive adhesive component is localized on the surface and/or surface layer part. It is surmised that performing the curing step after removing the pressure sensitive adhesive component contributes to setting the logarithmic decrement to be equal to or smaller than 0.050. However, this is merely a surmise, and the invention is not limited thereto.

As described above, multilayer coating of the magnetic layer forming composition can be performed with the non-magnetic layer forming composition in order or at the same time. In a preferred aspect, the magnetic tape can be manufactured by successive multilayer coating. A manufacturing step including the successive multilayer coating can be preferably performed as follows. The non-magnetic layer is formed through a coating step of applying a non-magnetic layer forming composition onto a non-magnetic support to form a coating layer, and a heating and drying step of drying the formed coating layer by a heating process. In addition, the magnetic layer is formed through a coating step of applying a magnetic layer forming composition onto the formed non-magnetic layer to form a coating layer, and a heating and drying step of drying the formed coating layer by a heating process.

Hereinafter, a specific aspect of the manufacturing method will be described with reference to FIG. 4. However, the invention is not limited to the following specific aspect. Hereinafter, the coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition before performing the curing process may be referred to as the magnetic layer. The same applies to other layers.

FIG. 4 is a schematic step view showing a specific aspect of a step of manufacturing the magnetic tape including a non-magnetic layer and a magnetic layer in this order on one surface of a non-magnetic support and including a back coating layer on the other surface thereof. In the aspect shown in FIG. 4, an operation of sending a non-magnetic support (elongated film) from a sending part and winding the non-magnetic support around a winding part is continuously performed, and various processes of coating, drying, and alignment are performed in each part or each zone shown in FIG. 4, and thus, it is possible to sequentially form a non-magnetic layer and a magnetic layer on one surface of the running non-magnetic support by multilayer coating and to form a back coating layer on the other surface thereof. Such a manufacturing method can be set to be identical to the manufacturing method normally performed for manufacturing a coating type magnetic tape, except for including a cooling zone in the magnetic layer forming step and including the burnishing treatment step before the curing process.

The non-magnetic layer forming composition is applied onto the non-magnetic support sent from the sending part in a first coating part (coating step of non-magnetic layer forming composition).

After the coating step, in a first heating process zone, the coating layer of the non-magnetic layer forming composition formed in the coating step is heated after to dry the coating layer (heating and drying step). The heating and drying step can be performed by causing the non-magnetic support including the coating layer of the non-magnetic layer forming composition to pass through the heated atmosphere. An atmosphere temperature of the heated atmosphere here can be, for example, approximately 40° C. to 140° C. Here, the atmosphere temperature may be a temperature at which the solvent is volatilized and the coating layer is dried, and the atmosphere temperature is not limited to the range described above. In addition, the heated air may blow to the surface of the coating layer. The points described above are also applied to a heating and drying step of a second heating process zone and a heating and drying step of a third heating process zone which will be described later, in the same manner.

Next, in a second coating part, the magnetic layer forming composition is applied onto the non-magnetic layer formed by performing the heating and drying step in the first heating process zone (coating step of magnetic layer forming composition).

After the coating step, a coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition formed in the coating step is cooled in a cooling zone (cooling step). For example, it is possible to perform the cooling step by allowing the non-magnetic support on which the coating layer is formed on the non-magnetic layer to pass through a cooling atmosphere. An atmosphere temperature of the cooling atmosphere is preferably −10° C. to 0° C. and more preferably −5° C. to 0° C. The time for performing the cooling step (for example, time while a random part of the coating layer is delivered to and sent from the cooling zone (hereinafter, also referred to as a “staying time”)) is not particularly limited. In a case where the staying time is long, the logarithmic decrement tends to be decreased. Thus, the staying time is preferably adjusted by performing preliminary experiment if necessary, so that the logarithmic decrement equal to or smaller than 0.050 is realized. In the cooling step, cooled air may blow to the surface of the coating layer.

After that, in the aspect of performing the alignment process, while the coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition is wet, an alignment process of the ferromagnetic powder in the coating layer is performed in an alignment zone. Regarding the alignment process, the above description can also be referred to.

The coating layer after the alignment process is subjected to the heating and drying step in the second heating process zone.

Next, in the third coating part, a back coating layer forming composition is applied to a surface of the non-magnetic support on a side opposite to the surface where the non-magnetic layer and the magnetic layer are formed, to form a coating layer (coating step of back coating layer forming composition). After that, the coating layer is heated and dried in the third heating process zone.

By doing so, it is possible to obtain the magnetic tape including the magnetic layer on the non-magnetic layer on one surface of the non-magnetic support and the back coating layer on the other surface thereof. The magnetic tape obtained here becomes a magnetic tape product after performing various processes which will be described later.

The obtained magnetic tape is wound around the winding part, and cut (slit) to have a size of a magnetic tape product. The slitting is performed by using a well-known cutter.

In the slit magnetic tape, the burnishing treatment is performed with respect to the surface of the magnetic layer, before performing the curing process (heating and light irradiation) in accordance with the types of the curing agent included in the magnetic layer (burnishing treatment step between heating and drying step and curing step). The inventors have surmised that removing the pressure sensitive adhesive component transitioned to the surface and/or the surface layer part of the magnetic layer cooled in the cooling zone by the burnishing treatment contributes to setting the logarithmic decrement to be equal to or smaller than 0.050. However, this is merely a surmise, and the invention is not limited thereto.

The burnishing treatment is treatment of rubbing a surface of a treatment target with a member (for example, a polishing tape, or a grinding tool such as a grinding blade or a grinding wheel), and can be performed in the same manner as the well-known burnishing treatment for manufacturing a coating type magnetic recording medium. However, in the related art, the burnishing treatment was not performed in a stage before the curing step, after performing the cooling step and the heating and drying step. With respect to this, the logarithmic decrement can be equal to or smaller than 0.050 by performing the burnishing treatment in the stage described above.

The burnishing treatment can be preferably performed by performing one or both of rubbing of the surface of the layer of the treatment target by a polishing tape (polishing) and rubbing of the surface of the layer of the treatment target by a grinding tool (grinding). As the polishing tape, a commercially available product may be used and a polishing tape manufactured by a well-known method may be used. As the grinding tool, a well-known blade such as a fixed blade, a diamond wheel, or a rotary blade, or a grinding wheel can be used. In addition, a wiping treatment of wiping the surface of the layer rubbed by the polishing tape and/or the grinding tool with a wiping material. For details of preferred polishing tape, grinding tool, burnishing treatment, and wiping treatment, descriptions disclosed in paragraphs 0034 to 0048, FIG. 1 and examples of JP1994-052544A (JP-H06-052544A) can be referred to. As the burnishing treatment is reinforced, the value of the logarithmic decrement tends to be decreased. The burnishing treatment can be reinforced as an abrasive having high hardness is used as the abrasive included in the polishing tape, and can be reinforced, as the amount of the abrasive in the polishing tape is increased. In addition, the burnishing treatment can be reinforced as a grinding tool having high hardness is used as the grinding tool. In regards to the burnishing treatment conditions, the burnishing treatment can be reinforced as a sliding speed between the surface of the layer of the treatment target and a member (for example, a polishing tape or a grinding tool) is increased. The sliding speed can be increased by increasing one or both of a speed at which the member is moved, and a speed at which the magnetic tape of the treatment target is moved.

After the burnishing treatment (burnishing treatment step), the curing process is performed with respect to the magnetic layer. In the aspect shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic layer is subjected to the surface smoothing treatment, after the burnishing treatment and before the curing process. The surface smoothing treatment is preferably performed by a calendar process.

After that, the curing process according to the type of the curing agent included in this layer is performed with respect to the magnetic layer (curing step). The curing process can be performed by the process according to the type of the curing agent included in the coating layer, such as a heating process or light irradiation. The curing process conditions are not particularly limited, and the curing process conditions may be suitably set in accordance with the list of the magnetic layer forming composition, the type of the curing agent, and the thickness of the magnetic layer. For example, in a case where the magnetic layer is formed by using the magnetic layer forming composition including polyisocyanate as the curing agent, the curing process is preferably the heating process. In a case where the curing agent is included in a layer other than the magnetic layer, a curing reaction of the layer can also be promoted by the curing process here. Alternatively, the curing step may be separately provided. After the curing step, the burnishing treatment may be further performed.

As described above, it is possible to obtain the magnetic tape according to one aspect of the invention. However, the manufacturing method described above is merely an example, each value can be controlled to be in respective ranges described above by any means capable of adjusting ΔN and the logarithmic decrement, and such an aspect is also included in the invention. The magnetic tape is normally accommodated in a magnetic tape cartridge and the magnetic tape cartridge is mounted on a magnetic recording and reproducing device. In a case of reproducing information recorded on the magnetic tape in the magnetic recording and reproducing device in the low temperature and high humidity environment, it is possible to decrease the generation frequency of the missing pulse, in a case of using the magnetic tape according to one aspect of the invention.

In the magnetic tape thus prepared, a servo pattern may be formed by a known method, in order to allow control of tracking of a magnetic head and control of the running speed of the magnetic recording medium to be performed in the magnetic recording and reproducing device. The “formation of a servo pattern” can also be referred to as “recording of a servo signal”. Formation of the servo pattern in a magnetic tape will be described below, as an example.

The servo pattern is generally recorded along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. Examples of control (servo control) systems utilizing servo signals include timing-based servo (TBS), amplitude servo, and frequency servo.

As shown in European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA)-319, a timing-based servo technique has been employed in a magnetic tape (generally referred to as “LTO tape”) in accordance with Linear Tape-Open (LTO) specifications. In this timing-based servo technique, the servo patterns are configured of consecutive alignment of a plurality of pairs of magnetic stripes (also referred to as “servo stripes”), in each pair of which magnetic stripes are not parallel with each other, in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. The reason why the servo signal is configured of pairs of magnetic stripes, in each pair of which magnetic stripes are not parallel with each other, is to teach a passing position to a servo signal reading element passing over the servo pattern. Specifically, the pairs of magnetic stripes are formed so that the intervals consecutively change along the width direction of the magnetic tape, and relative positions of the servo pattern and the servo signal reading element can be determined by reading the intervals with the servo signal reading element. The information on this relative positions enable the data track to be tracked. Thus, a plurality of servo tracks are generally set over the servo signal along the width direction of the magnetic tape.

The servo band is configured of servo signals continuously aligned in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. A plurality of the servo bands are generally provided in the magnetic tape. For example, in an LTO tape, the number of servo bands is five. A region sandwiched between the adjacent two servo bands is referred to as a data band. The data band is configured of a plurality of data tracks, and data tracks corresponds to respective servo tracks.

In one aspect, information on the number of servo bands (also referred to as information on a “servo band identification (ID)” or a “unique data band identification method (UDIM)”) is embedded in each servo band as shown in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-318983. This servo band ID is recorded shiftedly such that the position of a specific pair of servo stripes, among a plurality of servo stripes present in a servo band, should shift in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. Specifically, the degree of shifting the specific pair of servo stripes among the plurality of pairs of servo stripes is changed by each servo band. Accordingly, the recorded servo band ID is unique by each servo band, and the servo band is uniquely specified by reading one servo band with the servo signal reading element.

As another method for uniquely specifying a servo band, a method using a staggered technique as shown in ECMA-319 can be applied. In this staggered technique, a group of a plurality of pairs of magnetic stripes (servo stripes), in each pair of which magnetic stripes are not parallel with each other and which are placed consecutively in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape, are shiftedly recorded by each servo band in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. A combination of ways of shifting for each adjacent servo bands is unique in the entire magnetic tape. Accordingly, when a servo pattern is read with two servo signal reading elements, the servo band can be uniquely specified.

Information indicating a position in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape (also referred to as “longitudinal position (LPOS) information”) is also generally embedded in each servo band as shown in ECMA-319. This LPOS information is also recorded by shifting the position of the pair of servo stripes in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. Unlike the UDIM information, the same signal is recorded in each servo band in the case of LPOS information.

Other information different from UDIM information and LPOS information as mentioned above can also be embedded in the servo band. In this case, the information to be embedded may be different by each servo band like the UDIM information or may be the same by each servo band like the LPOS information.

As a method for embedding information in a servo band, a method other than the above-described method may also be employed. For example, among a group of pairs of servo stripes, a predetermined pair of servo stripes is thinned out to record a predetermined code.

A head for forming a servo pattern is referred to as a servo write head. The servo write head has the same number of pairs of gaps corresponding to the respective pairs of magnetic stripes as the number of servo bands. Generally, a core and a coil are connected to each pair of gaps, and a magnetic field generated in the core by suppling a current pulse to the coil can generate a leakage magnetic field to the pair of gaps. When a servo pattern is formed, a magnetic pattern corresponding to a pair of gaps can be transferred to the magnetic tape by inputting a current pulse while causing a magnetic tape to run over the servo write head, to form a servo pattern. Thus, the servo pattern can be formed. The width of each gap can be set as appropriate according to the density of the servo pattern to be formed. The width of each gap can be set to, for example, 1 μm or less, 1 to 10 μm, or 10 μm or larger.

Before forming a servo pattern on the magnetic tape, the magnetic tape is generally subjected to a demagnetization (erasing) treatment. This erasing treatment may be performed by adding a uniform magnetic field to the magnetic tape using a direct current magnet or an alternate current magnet. The erasing treatment includes direct current (DC) erasing and an alternating current (AC) erasing. The AC erasing is performed by gradually reducing the intensity of the magnetic field while inverting the direction of the magnetic field applied to the magnetic tape. In contrast, the DC erasing is performed by adding a one-direction magnetic field to the magnetic tape. The DC erasing further includes two methods. The first method is horizontal DC erasing of applying a one-direction magnetic field along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic field. The second method is a vertical DC erasing of applying a one-direction magnetic field along the thickness direction of the magnetic tape. The erasing treatment may be applied to the entire magnetic tape of the magnetic tape, or may be applied to each servo band of the magnetic tape.

The direction of the magnetic field of the servo pattern to be formed is determined according to the direction of the erasing. For example, when the magnetic tape has been subjected to the horizontal DC erasing, the servo pattern is formed so that the direction of the magnetic field becomes reverse to the direction of the erasing. Accordingly, the output of the servo signal, which can be yielded by reading the servo pattern, can be increased. As shown in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-53940, when a magnetic pattern is transferred to the magnetic tape which has been subjected to the vertical DC erasing using the gaps, the servo signal, which has been yielded by reading the servo pattern thus formed, has a unipolar pulse shape. In contrast, when a magnetic pattern is transferred to the magnetic tape which has been subjected to the parallel DC erasing, the servo signal, which has been yielded by reading the servo pattern thus formed, has a bipolar pulse shape.

Magnetic Recording and Reproducing Device

Another aspect of the invention relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing device including the magnetic tape and a magnetic head.

In the invention and the specification, the “magnetic recording and reproducing device” means a device capable of performing at least one of the recording of information on the magnetic tape or the reproducing of information recorded on the magnetic tape. Such a device is generally called a drive. The magnetic head included in the magnetic recording and reproducing device can be a recording head capable of performing the recording of information on the magnetic tape, and can also be a reproducing head capable of performing the reproducing of information recorded on the magnetic tape. In addition, in one aspect, the magnetic recording and reproducing device can include both of a recording head and a reproducing head as separate magnetic heads. In another aspect, the magnetic head included in the magnetic recording and reproducing device can also have a configuration of comprising both of a recording element and a reproducing element in one magnetic head. As the reproducing head, a magnetic head (MR head) including a magnetoresistive (MR) element capable of reading information recorded on the magnetic tape with excellent sensitivity as the reproducing element is preferable. As the MR head, various well-known MR heads can be used. In addition, the magnetic head which performs the recording of information and/or the reproducing of information may include a servo pattern reading element. Alternatively, as a head other than the magnetic head which performs the recording of information and/or the reproducing of information, a magnetic head (servo head) comprising a servo pattern reading element may be included in the magnetic recording and reproducing device.

In the magnetic recording and reproducing device, the recording of information on the magnetic tape and the reproducing of information recorded on the magnetic tape can be performed by bringing the surface of the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape into contact with the magnetic head and sliding. The magnetic recording and reproducing device may include the magnetic tape according to one aspect of the invention, and well-known technologies can be applied for the other configurations.

The magnetic recording and reproducing device includes the magnetic tape according to one aspect of the invention. Therefore, it is possible to decrease the generation frequency of the missing pulse in a case of reproducing information recorded on the magnetic tape in the low temperature and high humidity environment. In addition, even in a case where the surface of the magnetic layer and the head slide on each other for recording information on the magnetic tape in the low temperature and high humidity environment, it is possible to prevent the unstable contact state of the surface of the magnetic layer and the head due to the head attached material caused by the chipping of the surface of the magnetic layer.

EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference to examples. However, the invention is not limited to aspects shown in the examples. “Parts” and “%” in the following description are based on mass.

Example 1

Preparation of Abrasive Solution

3.0 parts of 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), 31.3 parts of a 32% solution (solvent is a mixed solvent of methyl ethyl ketone and toluene) of a SO₃Na group-containing polyester polyurethane resin (UR-4800 (SO₃Na group: 0.08 meq/g) manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.), and 570.0 parts of a mixed solvent of methyl ethyl ketone and cyclohexanone (mass ratio of 1:1) as a solvent were mixed with 100.0 parts of alumina powder (HIT-80 manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) having a gelatinization ratio of 65% and a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area of 20 m²/g, and dispersed in the presence of zirconia beads by a paint shaker for 5 hours. After the dispersion, the dispersion liquid and the beads were separated by a mesh and an alumina dispersion was obtained.

Preparation of Magnetic Layer Forming Composition

-   -   Magnetic Liquid     -   Plate-shaped ferromagnetic hexagonal barium ferrite powder:         100.0 parts         -   (Activation volume: 1600 nm³, average plate ratio: 3.5)     -   SO₃Na group-containing polyurethane resin: see Table 1         -   (Weight-average molecular weight: 70,000, SO₃Na group: see             Table 1)     -   Cyclohexanone: 150.0 parts     -   Methyl ethyl ketone: 150.0 parts     -   Abrasive Solution     -   Alumina dispersion prepared as described above: 6.0 parts     -   Silica Sol (projection forming agent liquid)     -   Colloidal silica (Average particle size: 100 nm): 2.0 parts     -   Methyl ethyl ketone: 1.4 parts     -   Other Components     -   Stearic acid: 2.0 parts     -   Butyl stearate: 2.0 parts     -   Polyisocyanate (CORONATE (registered trademark) manufactured by         Tosoh Corporation): 2.5 parts     -   Finishing Additive Solvent     -   Cyclohexanone: 200.0 parts     -   Methyl ethyl ketone: 200.0 parts

Preparation Method

The magnetic liquid was prepared by beads-dispersing of various components of the magnetic liquid described above by using beads as the dispersion medium in a batch type vertical sand mill. The bead dispersion was performed using zirconia beads (bead diameter: see Table 1) as the beads for the time shown in Table 1 (magnetic liquid bead dispersion time).

The magnetic liquid obtained as described above, the abrasive solution, silica sol, other components, and a finishing additive solvent were mixed with each other and beads-dispersed for 5 minutes, and the treatment (ultrasonic dispersion) was performed with a batch type ultrasonic device (20 kHz, 300 W) for 0.5 minutes. After that, the obtained mixed solution was filtered by using a filter having a hole diameter of 0.5 μm, and the magnetic layer forming composition was prepared.

Preparation of Non-Magnetic Layer Forming Composition

Each component among various components of the non-magnetic layer forming composition shown below excluding stearic acid, cyclohexanone, and methyl ethyl ketone was beads-dispersed (dispersion medium: zirconia beads (bead diameter: 0.1 mm), dispersion time: see Table 1) by using a batch type vertical sand mill to obtain a dispersion liquid. After that, the remaining components were added into the obtained dispersion liquid and stiffed with a dissolver. Then, the obtained dispersion liquid was filtered with a filter (hole diameter: 0.5 μm) and a non-magnetic layer forming composition was prepared.

Non-magnetic inorganic powder: α-iron oxide: 100.0 parts

-   -   (Average particle size: 10 nm, BET specific surface area: 75         m²/g)     -   Carbon black: 25.0 parts     -   (Average particle size: 20 nm)     -   A SO₃Na group-containing polyurethane resin: 18.0 parts     -   (Weight-average molecular weight: 70,000, content of SO₃Na         group: 0.2 meq/g)     -   Stearic acid: 1.0 parts     -   Cyclohexanone: 300.0 parts     -   Methyl ethyl ketone: 300.0 parts

Preparation of Back Coating Layer Forming Composition

Each component among various components of the back coating layer forming composition shown below excluding stearic acid, butyl stearate, polyisocyanate, and cyclohexanone was kneaded and diluted by an open kneader, and a mixed solution was obtained. After that, the obtained mixed solution was subjected to a dispersion process of 12 passes, with a transverse beads mill and zirconia beads having a bead diameter of 1.0 mm, by setting a bead filling percentage as 80 volume %, a circumferential speed of rotor distal end as 10 m/sec, and a retention time for 1 pass as 2 minutes. After that, the remaining components were added into the obtained dispersion liquid and stirred with a dissolver. Then, the obtained dispersion liquid was filtered with a filter (hole diameter: 1.0 μm) and a back coating layer forming composition was prepared.

Non-magnetic inorganic powder: α-iron oxide: 80.0 parts

-   -   Average particle size (average long axis length): 0.15 μm     -   Average acicular ratio: 7     -   BET specific surface area: 52 m²/g     -   Carbon black: 20.0 parts     -   Average particle size: 20 nm     -   A vinyl chloride copolymer: 13.0 parts     -   A sulfonic acid salt group-containing polyurethane resin: 6.0         parts     -   Phenylphosphonic acid: 3.0 parts     -   Methyl ethyl ketone: 155.0 parts     -   Stearic acid: 3.0 parts     -   Butyl stearate: 3.0 parts     -   Polyisocyanate: 5.0 parts     -   Cyclohexanone: 355.0 parts

Manufacturing of Magnetic Tape

A magnetic tape was manufactured by the specific aspect shown in FIG. 4. The magnetic tape was specifically manufactured as follows.

A support made of polyethylene naphthalate having a thickness of 5.0 μm was sent from the sending part, and the non-magnetic layer forming composition was applied to one surface thereof so that the thickness after the drying becomes 0.7 μm in the first coating part, and dried in the first heating process zone (atmosphere temperature of 100° C.) to form a non-magnetic layer.

After that, the magnetic layer forming composition was applied on the non-magnetic layer so that the thickness after the drying becomes 50 nm in the second coating part to form the coating layer. The cooling step was performed by passing the formed coating layer through the cooling zone in which the atmosphere temperature is adjusted to 0° C. for the staying time shown in Table 1 while the coating layer is wet. Then, a homeotropic alignment process was performed by applying a magnetic field having a strength shown in Table 1 in a vertical direction with respect to the surface of the coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition in the alignment zone, the coating layer was dried in the second heating process zone (atmosphere temperature: magnetic layer drying temperature in Table 1) to form the magnetic layer.

After that, in the third coating part, the back coating layer forming composition was applied to the surface of the support made of polyethylene naphthalate on a side opposite to the surface where the non-magnetic layer and the magnetic layer are formed, so that the thickness after the drying becomes 0.5 μm, to form a coating layer, and the formed coating layer was dried in a third heating process zone (atmosphere temperature of 100° C.) to form the back coating layer.

The magnetic tape obtained as described above was slit to have a width of ½ inches (0.0127 meters), and the burnishing treatment and the wiping treatment were performed with respect to the surface of the magnetic layer. The burnishing treatment and the wiping treatment were performed by using a commercially available polishing tape (product name: MA22000 manufactured by Fujifilm Corporation, abrasive: diamond/Cr₂O₃/red oxide) as the polishing tape, a commercially available sapphire blade (manufactured by Kyocera Corporation, a width of 5 mm, a length of 35 mm, and a tip angle of 60 degrees) as the grinding blade, and a commercially available wiping material (product name: WRP736 manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) as the wiping material, in a treatment device having a configuration disclosed in FIG. 1 of JP1994-052544A (JP-H06-052544A). For the treatment conditions, the treatment conditions disclosed in Example 12 of JP1994-052544A (JP-H06-052544A).

After the burnishing treatment and the wiping treatment, a calendar process (surface smoothing treatment) was performed with a calendar roll configured of only a metal roll, at a speed of 80 m/min, linear pressure of 300 kg/cm (294 kN/m), and a calendar temperature (surface temperature of a calendar roll) shown in Table 1.

Then, a heating process (curing process) was performed in the environment of the atmosphere temperature of 70° C. for 36 hours, and then, a servo pattern was formed on the magnetic layer by a commercially available servo writer.

By doing so, a magnetic tape of Example 1 was obtained.

Example 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6

A magnetic tape was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that various conditions shown in Table 1 were changed as shown in Table 1.

In Table 1, in the comparative examples in which “no alignment process” is shown in the column of “formation and alignment of magnetic layer”, the magnetic tape was manufactured without performing the alignment process regarding the coating layer of the magnetic layer forming composition.

In Table 1, in the comparative examples in which “not performed” is shown in the column of the cooling zone staying time and the column of the burnishing treatment before the curing process, a magnetic tape was manufactured by a manufacturing step not including a cooling zone in the magnetic layer forming step and not performing the burnishing treatment and the wiping treatment before the curing process.

Example 2

After forming the non-magnetic layer, the magnetic layer forming composition was applied on the surface of the non-magnetic layer so that the thickness after drying becomes 25 nm to form a first coating layer. The first coating layer was passed through the atmosphere at the atmosphere temperature shown in Table 1 (magnetic layer drying temperature) without application of a magnetic field to form a first magnetic layer (no alignment process).

After that, the magnetic layer forming composition was applied on the surface of the first magnetic layer so that the thickness after drying becomes 25 nm to form a second coating layer. The cooling step was performed by causing the formed second coating layer to pass the cooling zone in which the atmosphere temperature was adjusted to 0° C. for the staying time shown in Table 1, while the second coating layer was wet. After that, the homeotropic alignment process was performed by applying a magnetic field having a strength shown in Table 1 in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the second coating layer in the alignment zone, and drying was performed in the second heating process zone (atmosphere temperature: magnetic layer drying temperature in Table 1) to form a second magnetic layer.

A magnetic tape was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the multilayered magnetic layer was formed as described above.

Example 3

A magnetic tape was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 2, except that the cooling zone staying time was changed as shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 7

After forming the non-magnetic layer, the magnetic layer forming composition was applied on the surface of the non-magnetic layer so that the thickness after drying becomes 25 nm to form a first coating layer. The homeotropic alignment process and the drying process were performed by applying a magnetic field having a strength shown in Table 1 in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the first coating layer using opposing magnet in the atmosphere at the atmosphere temperature shown in Table 1 (magnetic layer drying temperature) while the first coating layer was wet, and a first magnetic layer was formed.

After that, the magnetic layer forming composition was applied on the surface of the first magnetic layer so that the thickness after drying becomes 25 nm to form a second coating layer. The second coating layer was passed through the atmosphere at the atmosphere temperature shown in Table 1 (magnetic layer drying temperature) without application of a magnetic field to form a second magnetic layer (no alignment process).

A magnetic tape was manufactured in the same manner as in Comparative Example 2, except that the multilayered magnetic layer was formed as described above.

Comparative Example 8

After forming the non-magnetic layer, the magnetic layer forming composition was applied on the surface of the non-magnetic layer so that the thickness after drying becomes 25 nm to form a first coating layer. The homeotropic alignment process and the drying process were performed by applying a magnetic field having a strength shown in Table 1 in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the first coating layer using opposing magnet in the atmosphere at the atmosphere temperature shown in Table 1 (magnetic layer drying temperature) while the first coating layer was wet, and a first magnetic layer was formed.

After that, the magnetic layer forming composition was applied on the surface of the first magnetic layer so that the thickness after drying becomes 25 nm to form a second coating layer. The second coating layer was passed through the atmosphere at the atmosphere temperature shown in Table 1 (magnetic layer drying temperature) without application of a magnetic field to form a second magnetic layer (no alignment process).

A magnetic tape was manufactured in the same manner as in Comparative Example 6, except that the multilayered magnetic layer was formed as described above, and the magnetic tape was manufactured by the manufacturing step not including the cooling zone in the magnetic layer forming step and not performing the burnishing treatment and the wiping treatment before the curing process.

Comparative Example 9

After forming the non-magnetic layer, the magnetic layer forming composition was applied on the surface of the non-magnetic layer so that the thickness after drying becomes 25 nm to form a first coating layer. The first coating layer was passed through the atmosphere at the atmosphere temperature shown in Table 1 (magnetic layer drying temperature) without application of a magnetic field to form a first magnetic layer (no alignment process).

After that, the magnetic layer forming composition was applied on the surface of the first magnetic layer so that the thickness after drying becomes 25 nm to form a second coating layer. The homeotropic alignment process and the drying process were performed by applying a magnetic field having a strength shown in Table 1 in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the second coating layer using opposing magnet in the atmosphere at the atmosphere temperature shown in Table 1 (magnetic layer drying temperature) while the second coating layer was wet, and a second magnetic layer was formed.

A magnetic tape was manufactured in the same manner as in Comparative Example 3, except that the multilayered magnetic layer was formed as described above.

Evaluation of Physical Properties of Magnetic Tape

(1) Measurement of Logarithmic Decrement of Magnetic Layer

The logarithmic decrement of the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape was acquired by the method described above by using a rigid-body pendulum type physical properties testing instrument RPT-3000W manufactured by A&D Company, Limited (pendulum: brass, substrate: glass substrate, a rate of temperature increase of substrate: 5° C./min) as the measurement device. A measurement sample cut out from the magnetic tape was placed on a glass substrate having a size of approximately 3 cm× approximately 5 cm, by being fixed at 4 portions with a fixing tape (Kapton tape manufactured by Du Pont-Toray Co., Ltd.) as shown in FIG. 1. An adsorption time was set as 1 second, a measurement interval was set as 7 to 10 seconds, a displacement-time curve was drawn regarding the 86-th measurement interval, and the logarithmic decrement was acquired by using this curve. The measurement was performed in the environment of relative humidity of approximately 50%.

(2) Thicknesses of Non-Magnetic Support and Each Layer

The thicknesses of the magnetic layer, the non-magnetic layer, the non-magnetic support, and the back coating layer of each manufactured magnetic tape were measured by the following method. As a result of the measurement, in all of the magnetic tapes, the thickness of the magnetic layer was 50 nm, the thickness of the non-magnetic layer was 0.7 μm, the thickness of the non-magnetic support was 5.0 μm, and the thickness of the back coating layer was 0.5 μm.

The thicknesses of the magnetic layer, the non-magnetic layer, and the non-magnetic support measured here were used for calculating the following refractive index.

(i) Manufacturing of Cross Section Observation Sample

A cross section observation sample including all regions of the magnetic tape from the magnetic layer side surface to the back coating layer side surface in the thickness direction was manufactured according to the method disclosed in paragraphs 0193 and 0194 of JP2016-177851A.

(ii) Thickness Measurement

The manufactured sample was observed with the STEM and a STEM image was captured. This STEM image was a STEM-high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) image which is captured at an acceleration voltage of 300 kV and a magnification ratio of imaging of 450,000, and the imaging was performed so that entire region of the magnetic tape from the magnetic layer side surface to the back coating layer side surface in the thickness direction in one image. In the STEM image obtained as described above, a linear line connecting both ends of a line segment showing the surface of the magnetic layer was determined as a reference line showing the surface of the magnetic tape on the magnetic layer side. In a case where the STEM image was captured so that the magnetic layer side of the cross section observation sample was positioned on the upper side of the image and the back coating layer side was positioned on the lower side, for example, the linear line connecting both ends of the line segment described above is a linear line connecting an intersection between a left side of the image (shape is a rectangular or square shape) of the STEM image and the line segment, and an intersection between a right side of the STEM image and the line segment to each other. In the same manner as described above, a reference line showing the interface between the magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer, a reference line showing the interface between the non-magnetic layer and the non-magnetic support, a reference line showing the interface between the non-magnetic support and the back coating layer, and a reference line showing the surface of the magnetic tape on the back coating layer side were determined.

The thickness of the magnetic layer was obtained as the shortest distance from one position randomly selected on the reference line showing the surface of the magnetic tape on the magnetic layer side to the reference line showing the interface between the magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer. In the same manner as described above, the thicknesses of the non-magnetic layer, the non-magnetic support, and the back coating layer were obtained.

(3) ΔN of Magnetic Layer

Hereinafter, M-2000U manufactured by J. A. Woollam Co., Inc. was used as the ellipsometer. The creating and fitting of a double-layer model or a single-layer model were performed with WVASE32 manufactured by J. A. Woollam Co., Inc. as the analysis software.

(i) Measurement Refractive Index of Non-Magnetic Support

A sample for measurement was cut out from each magnetic tape, the back coating layer of the sample for measurement was wiped off and removed using cloth permeated with methyl ethyl ketone to expose the surface of the non-magnetic support, and then, this surface is roughened with sand paper so that reflected light of the exposed surface is not detected in the measurement which will be performed after this with the ellipsometer.

After that, by wiping off and removing the magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer of the sample for measurement using the cloth permeated with methyl ethyl ketone and bonding a surface of a silicon wafer and the roughened surface to each other using static electricity, the sample for measurement was disposed on the silicon wafer so that the surface of the non-magnetic support exposed by removing the magnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer (hereinafter, referred to as the “surface of the non-magnetic support on the magnetic layer side”) faced upward.

The incidence ray was incident to the surface of the non-magnetic support of the sample for measurement on the magnetic layer side on the silicon wafer using the ellipsometer as described above, to measure Δ and ψ. By using the obtained measurement values and the thickness of the non-magnetic support obtained in the section (2), the refractive indexes of the non-magnetic support (the refractive index in a longitudinal direction, the refractive index in a width direction, the refractive index in a thickness direction measured by incidence of incidence ray in the longitudinal direction, and the refractive index in a thickness direction measured by incidence of incidence ray in the width direction) were obtained by the method described above.

(ii) Measurement of Refractive Index of Non-Magnetic Layer

A sample for measurement was cut out from each magnetic tape, the back coating layer of the sample for measurement was wiped off and removed using cloth permeated with methyl ethyl ketone to expose the surface of the non-magnetic support, and then, this surface is roughened with sand paper so that reflected light of the exposed surface is not detected in the measurement which will be performed after this with the spectroscopic ellipsometer.

After that, the surface of the magnetic layer of the sample for measurement was wiped off using the cloth permeated with methyl ethyl ketone, the magnetic layer was removed to expose the surface of the non-magnetic layer, and then, the sample for measurement was disposed on the silicon wafer in the same manner as in the section (i).

The measurement regarding the surface of the non-magnetic layer of the sample for measurement on the silicon wafer was performed using the ellipsometer, and the refractive indexes of the non-magnetic layer (the refractive index in a longitudinal direction, the refractive index in a width direction, the refractive index in a thickness direction measured by incidence of incidence ray in the longitudinal direction, and the refractive index in a thickness direction measured by incidence of incidence ray in the width direction) were obtained by the method described above by spectral ellipsometry.

(iii) Measurement of Refractive Index of Magnetic Layer

A sample for measurement was cut out from each magnetic tape, the back coating layer of the sample for measurement was wiped off and removed using cloth permeated with methyl ethyl ketone to expose the surface of the non-magnetic support, and then, this surface is roughened with sand paper so that reflected light of the exposed surface is not detected in the measurement which will be performed after this with the spectroscopic ellipsometer.

After that, the sample for measurement was disposed on the sample for measurement on the silicon wafer, in the same manner as in the section (i).

The measurement regarding the surface of the magnetic layer of the sample for measurement on the silicon wafer was performed using the ellipsometer, and the refractive indexes of the magnetic layer (the refractive index Nx in a longitudinal direction, the refractive index Ny in a width direction, the refractive index Nz₁ in a thickness direction measured by incidence of incidence ray in the longitudinal direction, and the refractive index Nz₂ in a thickness direction measured by incidence of incidence ray in the width direction) were obtained by the method described above by spectral ellipsometry. Nxy and Nz were obtained from the obtained values, and the absolute value ΔN of the difference of these values was obtained. Regarding all of magnetic tapes of the examples and the comparative examples, the obtained Nxy was a value greater than Nz (that is, Nxy>Nz).

Vertical Squareness Ratio (SQ)

A vertical squareness ratio of the magnetic tape is a squareness ratio measured regarding the magnetic tape in a vertical direction. The “vertical direction” described regarding the squareness ratio is a direction orthogonal to the surface of the magnetic layer. Regarding each magnetic tape of the examples and the comparative examples, the vertical squareness ratio was obtained by sweeping an external magnetic field in the magnetic tape at a measurement temperature of 23° C.±1° C. using an vibrating sample magnetometer (manufactured by Toei Industry Co., Ltd.) under conditions of a maximum external magnetic field of 1194 kA/m (15 kOe) and a scan speed of 4.8 kA/m/sec (60 Oe/sec). The measurement value is a value after diamagnetic field correction, and is obtained as a value obtained by subtracting magnetization of a sample probe of the vibrating sample magnetometer as background noise. In one aspect, the vertical squareness ratio of the magnetic tape is preferably 0.60 to 1.00 and more preferably 0.65 to 1.00. In addition, in one aspect, the vertical squareness ratio of the magnetic tape can be, for example, equal to or smaller than 0.90, equal to or smaller than 0.85, or equal to or smaller than 0.80, and can also be greater than these values.

Missing Pulse Generation Frequency in Low Temperature and High Humidity Environment

The following measurement was performed in the low temperature and high humidity environment of a temperature of 13° C. and relative humidity of 80%.

A magnetic tape cartridge accommodating each magnetic tape (magnetic tape total length of 500 m) of the examples and the comparative examples was set in a drive of Linear Tape-Open Generation 6 (LTO-G6) manufactured by IBM, and the magnetic tape was subjected to reciprocating running 1,500 times at tension of 0.6 N and a running speed of 8 m/sec.

The magnetic tape cartridge after the running was set in a reference drive (LTO-G6 drive manufactured by IBM), and the magnetic tape is allowed to run to perform the recording and reproducing. A reproducing signal during the running was introduced to an external analog/digital (AD) conversion device. A signal having a reproducing signal amplitude which is decreased by 70% or more than an average (average of measured values at each track) was set as a missing pulse, a generation frequency (number of times of the generation) thereof was divided by the total length of the magnetic tape to obtain a missing pulse generation frequency (unit: times/m) per unit length (per 1 m) of the magnetic tape. In a case where the missing pulse generation frequency is equal to or smaller than 5 times/m, the magnetic tape can be determined as a magnetic tape having high reliability in practice.

The results of the above evaluation are shown in Table 1 (Table 1-1 to Table 1-4).

TABLE 1-1 Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Magnetic liquid bead dispersion time 50 hours 50 hours 50 hours 50 hours Magnetic liquid dispersion bead 0.1 mm 0.1 mm 0.1 mm 0.1 mm diameter Magnetic liquid 330 eq/ton 330 eq/ton 330 eq/ton 330 eq/ton Content of SO₃Na group of polyurethane resin Magnetic liquid 15.0 parts 15.0 parts 15.0 parts 15.0 parts Content of SO₃Na group-containing polyurethane resin Non-magnetic layer forming 24 hours 24 hours 24 hours 24 hours composition dispersion time Magnetic layer drying temperature  50° C.  50° C.  50° C.  50° C. Calender temperature 100° C. 100° C. 100° C. 100° C. Formation and alignment of magnetic Homeotropic alignment Second layer: homeotropic Second layer: homeotropic Homeotropic layer 0.5 T alignment 0.5 T/ alignment 0.5 T/ alignment 0.2 T First layer: no alignment First layer: no alignment process process Cooling zone staying time 1 second 1 second 180 seconds 1 second Burnishing treatment before curing Performed Performed Performed Performed process Result Vertical squareness ratio 0.66 0.60 0.60 0.60 (SQ) ΔN 0.30 0.35 0.35 0.25 Logarithmic decrement of 0.048 0.048 0.015 0.048 magnetic layer Missing pulse generation 4 2 1 4 frequency (times/m)

TABLE 1-2 Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 2 Comparative Example 3 Magnetic liquid bead dispersion time 6 hours 50 hours 6 hours Magnetic liquid dispersion bead diameter 1 mm 0.1 mm 1 mm Magnetic liquid 60 eq/ton 330 eq/ton 60 eq/ton Content of SO₃Na group of polyurethane resin Magnetic liquid 25.0 parts 15.0 parts 25.0 parts Content of SO₃Na group-containing polyurethane resin Non-magnetic layer forming composition dispersion time 3 hours 24 hours 3 hours Magnetic layer drying temperature 70° C.  50° C. 70° C. Calender temperature 80° C. 100° C. 80° C. Formation and alignment of magnetic layer No alignment process Homeotropic alignment Homeotropic alignment 0.5 T 0.5 T Cooling zone staying time Not performed Not performed Not performed Burnishing treatment before curing process Not performed Not performed Not performed Result Vertical squareness ratio (SQ) 0.50 0.66 0.55 ΔN 0.10 0.30 0.20 Logarithmic decrement of magnetic layer 0.060 0.060 0.060 Missing pulse generation frequency 10 7 9 (times/m)

TABLE 1-3 Comparative Example 4 Comparative Example 5 Comparative Example 6 Magnetic liquid bead dispersion time 6 hours 50 hours 96 hours Magnetic liquid dispersion bead diameter 1 mm 0.1 mm 0.1 mm Magnetic liquid 60 eq/ton 330 eq/ton 330 eq/ton Content of SO₃Na group of polyurethane resin Magnetic liquid 25.0 parts 15.0 parts 10.0 parts Content of SO₃Na group-containing polyurethane resin Non-magnetic layer forming composition dispersion time 3 hours 24 hours 48 hours Magnetic layer drying temperature 70° C.  50° C.  30° C. Calender temperature 80° C. 100° C. 110° C. Formation and alignment of magnetic layer Homeotropic alignment No alignment process Homeotropic alignment 0.5 T 0.5 T Cooling zone staying time 1 second Not performed 1 second Burnishing treatment before curing process Performed Not performed Performed Result Vertical squareness ratio (SQ) 0.55 0.53 0.80 ΔN 0.20 0.20 0.45 Logarithmic decrement of magnetic layer 0.048 0.060 0.048 Missing pulse generation frequency (times/m) 7 10 8

TABLE 1-4 Comparative Example 7 Comparative Example 8 Comparative Example 9 Magnetic liquid bead dispersion time 50 hours 96 hours 6 hours Magnetic liquid dispersion bead diameter 0.1 mm 0.1 mm 1 mm Magnetic liquid 330 eq/ton 330 eq/ton 60 eq/ton Content of SO₃Na group of polyurethane resin Magnetic liquid 15.0 parts 10.0 parts 25.0 parts Content of SO₃Na group-containing polyurethane resin Non-magnetic layer forming composition dispersion time 24 hours 48 hours 3 hours Magnetic layer drying temperature  50° C.  30° C. 70° C. Calender temperature 100° C. 110° C. 80° C. Formation and alignment of magnetic layer Second layer: no Second layer: no Second layer: alignment process/ alignment process/ homeotropic alignment First layer: homeotropic First layer: homeotropic 0.5 T/ alignment 0.5 T alignment 0.5 T First layer: no alignment process Cooling zone staying time Not performed Not performed Not performed Burnishing treatment before curing process Not performed Not performed Not performed Result Vertical squareness ratio (SQ) 0.60 0.66 0.53 ΔN 0.20 0.20 0.20 Logarithmic decrement of magnetic layer 0.060 0.060 0.060 Missing pulse generation frequency (times/m) 11 9 11

From the results shown in Table 1, in the magnetic tapes of Examples 1 to 4 in which ΔN and the logarithmic decrement of the magnetic layer are respectively in the range described above, it is possible to confirm that the missing pulse generation frequency in the low temperature and high humidity environment is decreased, compared to the magnetic tapes of Comparative Examples 1 to 9.

In general, the squareness ratio is known as an index for a state of the ferromagnetic powder present in the magnetic layer. However, as shown in Table 1, even in a case of the magnetic tapes having the same vertical squareness ratios, ΔN are different from each other (for example, Example 1 and Comparative Example 8). The inventors have thought that this shows that ΔN is a value which is affected by other factors, in addition to the state of the ferromagnetic powder present in the magnetic layer.

One aspect of the invention is effective in a technical field of various magnetic recording media such as a magnetic tape for data storage. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic tape comprising: a non-magnetic support; a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, and a non-magnetic layer including a non-magnetic powder and a binding agent between the non-magnetic support and the magnetic layer, wherein a thickness of the non-magnetic layer is 0.1 to 1.5 μm, an absolute value ΔN of a difference between a refractive index Nxy measured regarding an in-plane direction of the magnetic layer and a refractive index Nz measured regarding a thickness direction of the magnetic layer is 0.25 to 0.40, and a logarithmic decrement acquired by a pendulum viscoelasticity test performed regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.050.
 2. The magnetic tape according to claim 1, wherein the difference Nxy−Nz between the refractive index Nxy and the refractive index Nz is 0.25 to 0.40.
 3. The magnetic tape according to claim 1, wherein the logarithmic decrement is 0.010 to 0.050.
 4. The magnetic tape according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the non-magnetic layer is 0.1 to 1.0 μm.
 5. The magnetic tape according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the non-magnetic layer is 0.1 to 0.7 μm.
 6. The magnetic tape according to claim 1, further comprising: a back coating layer including a non-magnetic powder and a binding agent on a surface of the non-magnetic support opposite to a surface provided with the magnetic layer.
 7. A magnetic recording and reproducing device comprising: the magnetic tape according to claim 1; and a magnetic head. 